Adjustable expansive extension rod



10, 193 s. c. BRODY 1,966,283

ADJUSTABLE EXPANSIVE EXTENSION ROD Filed Feb. 23. 1934 fizzle/afar.-

Patented July 10, 1934 PATENT OFFICE- Claims.

This invention relates to extension rods. For the purposes of this application I shall discuss my rod in its adaptation as a closet rod, in which use it finds a field of immediate demand. When 5 mounted in a clothes closet or other place where space must be conserved, it aiiords a convenient support form which a plurality of coat hangers, skirt hangers, trousers hangers or the like may be suspended.

Considering its use as a closet red as typical of the many and varied uses to which my extension rod may be put, I would note at the outset the problem of adapting the rod to the span available. The rod is intended for universal sale and hence must be capable of mounting in closets or between supports of varying span. This means that the rod must be extensible, but the matter of extensibility is directly related to the matter of rigidity and strength. a

The desiderata are a rod which while extensible tofit varying spans is nonetheless as strong and rigid as a rod of fixed length.

tructurally, therefore my extension rod is so designed as to offer the maximum rigidity regardless of the degree to which the rod may have been extended, thus always to afford a strong, solid, non-sagging and non-rattling support even when extended to its limit of adjustability.

The construction is such that the extension members constituting the rod as positively guided relative to one another in their adjustment action and locked against relative movement upon one another when extended to the selected degree.

Moreover, the rod is so designed as to enable it to be firmly and reliably mounted on existing end supporting members, as for example, the usual clothes hooks ordinarily found in clothes closets, thus making it unnecessary to drive nails ib or screws in order to mount the rod in fixed position within the closet or other space selected.

As illustrative of the principles involved, I show in the accompanying drawing an embodiment of my invention which is at once inexpensive of construction as to enable it to be manufactured and sold at the minimum cost and so simple and easy of installation and so'reliable in use as instantly to recommend itself for the intended purposes.

In such drawingz- Fig. l is a perspective view of an extension rod in accordance with my invention in applied position, the rod being shownas extended substantially to its maximum span, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the rod and locking eyes 16 and 1'? and terminates at its opposite end in an attaching hook or loop 18.

The hooks or loops 15 and 18 are adapted to be fastened over any suitable supporting devices, as the conventional clothes-hanger hooks 19 and 20 always found in any clothes closet. Obviously, of course, said hooks or {loops may be fastened by other fastening means than the standard clothes hooks 19 and 20, although the capacity of the hooks or loops 15 and 18 for mounting upon such hooks is one of the features which recommend my rod, obviating as it does the necessity for driving nails or screws in order to fix the rod in the selected position of use.

The rod sections may be of any desired material. Preferably although not necessarily, they are of round-rolled wire of the proper gauge. Other shapes may obviously be used, however, and the gauge may vary according to the load which the rod is to carry.

Mechanically, the rod sections are disposed one above the other so as to ofier the maximum strength to a load suspended directly therefrom, as for example by means of a plurality of clothes hangers, of which one is indicated at 21.

The eyes 13 and 14 of sectionll are bent in reverse direction to the direction of bend of the eyes 16 and 17 of section 12 so as to guide and maintain the rod sections in the superposed rclation illustrated in the drawing.

The eye 14 of section 11 and the eye 17 of section 12, being formed intermediate of the ends of their respective rod sections, are so bent that the portions of the rod sections therebeyond are brought back into the planes of the rod sections generally so as to extend as continuations thereof.

The eye 13 of the rod section 11 and the eye 16 of the section 12 constitute the inner terminals of said sections, the retaining hooks or loops 15 and 18 respectively constituting the outer terminals of said sections.

Each hook or loop 15 or 18 extends vertically its? inc

upward from its rod section a distance sufiicient to accommodate the supporting hooks 19 or 20 and is then bent over upon itself and downwardly back towards the rod, as clearly appears in the drawing.

In installing the rod, it is simply necessary to extend the rod sections a distance sufficient to enable the hooks or loops 15 and 18 to span the distance between the supporting hooks 19 and 20 and be fitted thereover. In such extension action, the rod sections are mutually guided on one another by means of the eyes 13 and 14 and 16 and.17. These maintain the rod sections in superposed parallel relation at all times.

When the-rod is adjusted to its maximum length, the eye 17 of rod section 12 abuts the eye 14 of rod section 11 as a mutually contacting stop.

When the rod is' shortened to its minimum length the eye 16 of section 12 abuts the hook or loop 15 of section 11 and the eye 13 of section 11 abuts the hook or loop 18 of section 12 as mutually contacting stops.

The eyes 13, 14, 16 and 17 thus function as limiting stops as well as guiding eyes, and the hooks or loops l5 and 18 likewise also function as lim-' iting stops as well as attaching elements.

While I have discussed my invention as a clothes rod intended primarily for use in a clothes closet, it will be understood that this treatment is purely illustrative and in no way limiting, and that the field of use of my rod is limited only by the limitations of the imagination. Speaking generally, it may be used in any capacity where a support or suspension rod is required, as for example under shelves or steps, or between doorways and walls.

Similarly as to the character of its use. Any object, or any number of objects not inconsistent with the strength of the rod may be suspended therefrom, as for example, draperies, curtains, or other hangings.

structurally, also, my rod is obviously susceptible of various modifications, as for example in the design of its component parts and their cooperative arrangement.

All such variations in both use and structure are to be regarded as within the purview of my invention, if within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An extension rod for supporting articles of wearing apparel and the like, comprising a pair of juxtaposed rod sections, each rod section having between its ends a guiding eye and each section terminating at its inner end in a guiding eye, the eyes of one rod section being disposed in a direction opposite to those of the cooperating rod section, and the eyes of one section slidably embracing the cooperating rod section, and each rod section at its outer end terminating in an attachment hook or loop.

2. A rod as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hook or attachment loops extend in the same direction from their respective rod sections.

3. An extension rod for supporting articles of wearing apparel and the like, comprising a pair of juxtaposed rod sections, each rod section having a pair of guiding formations spaced a substantial distance apart, the formations of one rod section slidably embracing and interlocking the cooperating rod section, and said formations preventing detachment of said sections from each other while permitting said sections to be freely moved longitudinally relative to each other into extended and contracted positions, said sections reinforcing each other in positions of extension or contraction of the rod, and each section at its outer end terminating in an attachment means. 4. A rod as claimed in claim 1 wherein each rod section is formed of wire and the eyes are formed integrally therewith.

- SAMUEL C. BRODY. 

